Bill Rancic Surprises Giuliana with a Birkin Bag Birthday Cake

On August 9, the E! host thought she was simply attending a meeting at RPM Steak, the soon-to-open Chicago restaurant (and sibling to RPM Italian) that she owns with husband Bill Rancic.

Turns out the reality star had planned an surprise party for his wife, who turns 40 on August 17, complete with a stunning Birkin-inspired cake by pastry chef Hsing Chen of H Patisserie.

“She was very surprised when it was brought out,” Chen tells PEOPLE. “She thought she was just having a meeting but this whole thing was planned ahead of time for her.”

Rancic posted her own shot of the cake with the caption, “Thank u for my gorg birthday cake @billrancic! I want to wear it!!!”

Why the handbag? “That was what Bill wanted her to have. The idea generated from him and my guess is that she just loves bags,” Chen says. It sounds like a reasonable theory, as the ultra-stylish host has spoken openly about her love for her own black Birkin and has often been spotted carrying the gorgeous arm candy.

The cake-imitates-purse theme is a recent trend in Giuliana’s life. Last week she also posted the below shot of a cake modeled after a Chanel handbag with coordinating cake pops, which was taken during yet another Bill-orchestrated surprise celebration with friends. (The group appears to have flown together to Chicago on a private jet, and the treats were brought by Giuliana’s “BFF,” author Colet Abedi.) “I don’t want to devour it, I wanna wear it!!!” she gushed in the caption.

According to Chen, the Birkin confection was not just for show: The devil’s food cake, which was layered with chocolate ganache, was served to the couple and the group of about 15 well-wishers. The chef says her masterpiece took about three days to complete.

“The hardest part was getting the exact shade of orange and making the hardware and stitching look realistic,” says Chen, who adds that although she worked from photos, “it would have been nice to have an actual bag handy for reference.”

The Latest Craze in Disco Styles Is See-Through Jeans—but Beware of Foggy Bottoms

On a clear day, you can see forever—or at least that’s the wicked thought behind L.A. designer Agi Berliner’s transparent idea: see-through jeans. Exhibitionists notwithstanding, most folks wear them over bathing suits or as attention-getting evening wear with halters, garter belts and body stockings. Created for the disco crowd, the $34 jeans are selling like, well, hot pants. In just six weeks, 25,000 pairs have already been sold in such major department store chains as Macy’s, Bonwit’s and Saks.

“What’s limiting American designers is that we’re afraid to do something different,” says Berliner, 32, a Hungarian émigré who fled with her family to the U.S. in 1956. Agi thought up the gimmick in London while marveling at the way plastics were being employed by designers of punk fashion. In her L.A. office, where she designs for La Parisienne junior sportswear, Agi spent five days on the phone and six weeks testing to come up with the right plastic.

Agi herself tried out the French-cut jeans with the zipper in front, and quickly found several problems: Some plastics tore away from stitching, others wouldn’t bend and all fogged with perspiration. The ideal material proved to be a vinyl supplied by a bookbinder. The steam was eliminated with a series of vents behind the knees and in the crotch. “They’re no hotter than polyester pants,” claims Agi, “and if you wear them with tights, they won’t stick to your legs.”

Whatever the discomfort and despite the problem of Saturday night feverishness, discomaniacs report one major advantage of the plastic pants: no laundry bills. To keep Berliner’s see-through jeans clear, all the wearer needs is a little Windex.

she doesn’t need a birken! she needs a burger! like a thousand of them. she looks like a lollipop with a blond wig on top!

leelu on August 14th, 2014

a birken cake. does it get any more obnoxious. oh wait. it does. a chanel… on a private jet. yuck.

NH on August 14th, 2014

This couple are the epitome of obnoxious, thoughtless, over the top,
gauche spending, and then making the talk show circuit talking about
how ” boring and regular ” their lives are. and Bill Rancic gives financial
advice to people struggling with debt as he talks about his buying and selling million dollar homes with appliances and fixtures and doors imported from all over the world . Such hypocrisy. Meanwhile, poor Queen G must have a private jet and 2 cakes made to look like the most expensive handbags in the world. No supermarket cake for her ! and Baby
Duke is home with a nanny . She and Kim K share the same parenting, or lack there of, nurturing. But, they will buy another one and not let it
Interfere with their must-haves.

Sam on August 14th, 2014

BIll Rancic is a very uncouth human being….trashing Maria Menunos before she got there. Your wife passes judgement on people for a living–all while airing every, private detail of her life . The height of hypocrisy.

whatever on August 14th, 2014

pulease – trick doesn’t eat, period

vamanos on August 14th, 2014

The Chanel bag and cake pops are so cute.

Shelley on August 14th, 2014

Right, like she eats! Everything was made of cake. She’ll have to purge big time after this party. My husband had the exact cake made for my birthday so…..(LOL)

Guest on August 14th, 2014

I really used to like Giuliana and Bill, they always seemed like down to earth, likeable people. But now they really get on my nerves, especially when Bill co-hosts E! news, maybe it’s just me but I don’t think him and Jason Kennedy get along, they basically tear each other apart and they SAY it’s just a “brotherly” thing, but I don’t think it is. Bill seems a little full of himself and Guiliana is becoming that way also.

Steph on August 14th, 2014

why do I come to people.com ???

Pandora on August 14th, 2014

I hope she eats a big piece, she is way too thin!

Anonymous on August 14th, 2014

I love the fact that Bill goes over the top with his unique gifts to Giuliana! The cakes look awesome, and very realistic. He could have gone over the top buying the actual Birkin’s or Chanel’s, but he didn’t’. Giuliana is a very lucky lady… there aren’t many husbands out there who would put so much thought into a special gift for their wives. I love it!!🙂

Debbie on August 14th, 2014

dang you people are mean. If he wants to buy her a Berkin, he can certainly do so. Jealous people!!

DaisyMoon on August 15th, 2014

Love purse cakes and happen to know about it…
The Birkin is good, but it could’ve been great if the decorator had used an impression mat on the orange fondant…

Google: fondant alligator impression mat (or crocodile impression mat)
They’re very inexpensive and make the cake look even more realistic.

Gina on August 15th, 2014

This couple is so superficial, and narcissistic!

Anonymous on August 15th, 2014

We know Guillana interviews celebs who are rich & famous I guess she always
wanted their lifestyle as well! So Bill got tired listening to her whining he got the best
next best thing to the real thing – a cake with a marzipan Hermes Birkin bag.
I just hope he didn’t actually bought her the real bag because it’s a waste
of money even if he can afford it . Don’t break your bank for that Bill unless you have
millions like Donald Trump! It’s just a bag and it doesn’t cure one’s insecurities!!

Madison on August 15th, 2014

It’s obvious she never even took a bite of it. I find this couple to be very superficial.

ciparliamo on August 16th, 2014

Bill got his start on the first “Apprentice”……back when it was tolerable to watch and not these idiot celebrities. he was obnoxious even then. she use to be attractive until she turned into a skeleton…..

Stella on August 16th, 2014

I never understood the love for these bags – I think both of them are so impractical and neither seem to hold much! Also the Birkin is kind of boring looking to me.

Stella on August 16th, 2014

Have stopped watching E News – it has taken a turn (has anyone noticed?) now it’s all about them (the commentators) – it’s hard to hear the actual reporting on the stars. Seems like they are following on the coat tails of the Kelly and Michael show (same ‘me’ ‘me’ ‘me’ approach).

ann on August 16th, 2014

Bills a cheapskate. Hed never buy her a real bag.

Anonymous on August 16th, 2014

how tacky!!

Marcia on August 16th, 2014

I used to like this couple, and I’m glad she beat cancer and that they had a baby, but they have gotten irritating. Especially her. Too superficial pseudo celebrity.